58
THE LIFE AND MARTYRDOME OF MR. MAXFIELD , PRIEST
VII . A LETTER TO MR. HARVEY ABOUT THE MARTYR'S RELICS . The signature of the writer (as well as one passage and three names ) has been carefully blotted out . All we can say is that he must have been a dependent (perhaps the chaplain) of some lord , the first letter of whose name would. seem to be except that there was no Catholic lord whose title had that initial The late Father Stanton has endorsed the portfolio in which this letter is preserved with these words : A letter enclosing a relic of V. Thomas Maxfield, viz: a flower which he carried in his hand to Tyburn . The flower is now in a red paper, and seems to be the calix of a pink. The packet of red paper, with its enclosure, is still reverently preserved within the letter. The writer of this letter was evidently unaware that the Martyr's body had been recovered by Catholics It should be here added that the Spanish Ambassador took it home with him when he left England . In Spain it was carefully preserved by the descendants of the Count of Gondomar, and when, in recent years, Dom Gilbert Dolan re-identified the relics , the modern representative of that house gave him a large share of the bones, which are now preserved at Downside .
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Most deare & respected Sr, haueinge ys oportunity, I could not neglect
remember haue by ys bearer sent yr hors , yt there may no cawse remayne (wch lieth in my powre to remooue ) for to hinder yr cuminge hither. newse can informe y" of none , but yt About twenty words have been here carefully blotted out . is better. theare was a preeste martired ye same morninge ( one Mr Maxfielde) who died wth greate edification, ye spanish & french imbasadors were suters vnto the kinge for his life, but thaie not obtayning of it weare much discontented, & seeame more then ordinarily to pittie ye state of our Engelish catherlickes . haue heere inclosed a relicke, wch was ys morning giuen me by my [ lo : it is parte of ye same wch ys blessed Marter carried in his hande whilste he wente to exiecution, and parted not had it giuen to him, by sum yt wthall vntill his death ; my lo : [ came from ye execution. There was a proclymation pend very strictely, yt none shewlde haue any of ye straw wch came neere him, & great prouition y no relicke shewlde be had of his , therfore great care was taken yt nobody shewlde cum neere vnto him, yett ye french but espetiallie ye spaynish imbasadors menn prest vnto him, and wrappinge relickes of him in theare handcerchers , wept much and complayned of ye kinges cruelty in publicke. Very shortly I will write to yu againe,
to wright vnto yu, to lett yu perceaue how continewallye yu.
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therfore now I conclude
[Commend] me to & my vnkle.
y most affectionate
& assured friende
Addressed. To Mr Haruey. Endorsed . Flowers which Mr Maxfeeld carryed in his hand to Tiburn .
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